Probe report must by May-end, says Bacher

The proposed commission’s report will be passed on to the International Cricket Council, he told weekly Cricket Talk.

Asked if the game was murky in the Indian sub-continent as many of the events connected with match-fixing seemed to have happened there, Bacher said, “If there are problems in the sub-continent, they will emerge. The Indian police seem to be very strong in investigations there.”

In reply to a question what action would follow if some people were named by the inquiry commission and whether he would co-operate with the Indian probe, Bacher said, “Let us not take names. We will co-operate with everybody whether it be the Indian courts, the Indian police, the Indian Government, we will definitely co-operate.”

Asked about his immediate reaction to Cronje’s call on the match-fixing scandal. Bacher said, “He called at three in the morning. I was shattered. I said that. For three or four days before that I went public supporting Cronje believing he was honest. He was dishonest with me.”

Bacher conceded South African cricket was passing through a crisis but expressed confidence they would come out of it.

“Certainly it is a crisis. We will come out of it. We are a very resilient people. The future is very bright for South African cricket. Very bright. We will handle this difficult situation.”

He said the team was doing “unbelievably well” under Shaun Pollock. Without some senior players like Allan Donald, Daryl Cullinan and Cronje, “they have given a contest to the Australians. There is a tremendous fighting spirit in the team.”

Asked whether Cronje’s confession was redemption enough and the sacked skipper would be taken back, Bacher said, “Let’s wait. Let’s see what the findings are. I haven’t said we will take him back. We cannot be theoretical at this point.”